Looking into random Airbag codes. The present one being code 22. The truck is a 1995 Eddie Bauer super cab. What all is involved in removing this panel in order to access the rear airbag sensor and wiring?
EDIT: Figured out the panel. It looked like more trouble than it actually is. But watch this thread for other testing questions.


More questions coming.

 

No rear air bags in these.

Just pull the light and disconnect the front bag. No way I would trust a 30 year old bag or spend any time to diagnose it.

 

True but the code is for the rear sensor

which according to this post is behind that panel.



You would not trust it going off because it’s old? I’d say it is working as designed since it detected a fault. What happens with the insurance company if you were in an accident and the air bag didn’t deploy because you disabled the system?

OP, I have not worked on a super cab in a long time but you will need to remove the sill plate, and then start looking for the screws holding that side panel to the cab. You will most likely need to remove the Torx bolt for the upper seat bet mount.

 

You can trust a 30 year old bag, not me.

Let me know when the rear bag is discovered

 

FWIW: My super cab truck has the rear bench that folds down into a cargo platform. So, the bench and back rest must be removed. Eight nuts total. Then I have easy access to the panel screws and seat/ shoulder belt bolt. Ample room to maneuver the panel.

I'll shampoo the rear seat while it's out.

With the weather about to turn, I may not get back to this for a few days. Stay tuned.

 

I do not currently have any trucks with an air bag but I certainly did trust the one in the ‘94 when I owned it.

Reading comprehension a little slow today? No one said anything about a rear air bag. It’s the rear SENSOR for the air bag.

 

The air bags will work 100 years from now
Use a airbag simulator and a service manual
Most common problem (and the only moving part) id the clock spring
Plugging an airbag simulator in the clockspring circuit at the base of the column is the easiest way to diagnose one

 

I haven’t seen an air bag simulator since I worked at the dealership in the 90’s. Do you have one to loan to the OP? According to the code the sensor is shorted to power. There is no clock spring in the crash sensor. Hopefully the OP will find something obvious when he gets behind the trim panel to look at the sensor.

 

With no direction, I performed a basic continuity test of the clock spring. I suspected it was probably fine since the horn and cruise control worked as they should. The yellow, two wire circuit, unplugged from airbag and under dash showed no short to ground or short to any other wiring (horn, cruise). I tested these both static and while rocking the steering wheel side to side. (With wheels on the ground I couldn't turn the wheel very far).

The module (the blue one with the crusty tape, is there another?) has the blown thermo fuse. I have seen a code 51 at least once. Also, I have seen code 12 or 13, or both? These were the more common I think. And the code 22 is new. I have never seen more than one code at a time when counting flashes.

Do these SRS codes get erased with a battery disconnect? Are once present codes stored in anywhere? I have been constantly disconnecting the battery every time I fool with anything electrical.

Since just getting the truck running as it should was my focus for the past year, the airbag light was not a priority. Now that the truck is running as it should, the airbag has moved up on the to do list.

 

I guess I glanced past it. I had the interior fully out of my 96, but being a one ton it was probably exempt from all kinds of things and the SRS

 

Although I may agree with you, I won't be around in 100 years to prove you wrong. There is no manufacture that would ever put that in print. When SRS systems first came out, they were good for 5 years. After 5 years passed, they changed them to 10 years. After 10 years, they were found to be ok to 15 years.

If Ford says they are good lifetime, I would love to see that information.

If I got a code 22 and it stated the rear sensor was shorted to power, I would check the ground circuit.

Is it possible that the sensor was unplugged and the code not cleared? Does Ford set codes and the light stays on until the code is cleared light other manufacturers?

 

Ford air bag systems prove out every key on cycle, and do store codes
No way to clear codes, the codes just go away when the fault clears

 

Good to know. Thanks!

 

With only the EVTM for reference, I set about testing all the wiring. No wire shorts to ground. No shorts to other AIR BAG CIRCUIT wiring. Some of the air bag wiring is inside a main under dash harness. Still need to look for short to vehicle power, both key on and always hot

I did find something that is confusing to me.
EDIT: No longer confusing. The pin sockets are only shorted to each other when connector is unplugged. Similar to connector C219. Divider opens short when plugged in. I spent way too much time thinking about this yesterday.



Circuits 614 and 615 seem to form a loop with no way for current to flow. Connector C218 has a "shorting bar" between pins 10 and 11. Thought this could be a mistake on the EVTM diagram but it is not. All connector pin locations, wire colors match.



The rear sensor was exposed by removing half the interior panels. About twenty nuts, bolts and screws sensor and mounting surface were pristine. I did scrape paint and added a star washer to insure a very good ground. Others have reported good results doing this. I will say that the paint on the sensor bracket is very thick. The mounting screws do have little dimples under the head so, with no corrosion, there shouldn't have been an issue. The sensor itself tests (continuity) as I expected from looking at the EVTM diagram.

Also wanted to share the new tools I made for ease of testing the air bag wiring. At the u-pull yard, I clipped a few of the appropriate sized connectors and extracted the pins and sockets. I can simply plug them in to the truck's connectors and alligator clip to the DVM test leads

 

I'd plug a simulator into the harness
You can get these for 5 bucks on Ebay at times
I have a few of them for different applications


Those shorting bars are all over the air bag system
That module knows when a connector is disconnected